St. Francis Medical Center Marks National Heart Valve Day by Celebrating 200-plus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Procedures
February 22, 2024
Monroe, LA - In conjunction with National Heart Valve Day on February 22, 2024, St. Francis Medical Center proudly announces a significant milestone in cardiovascular care with the completion of more than 200 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures. This achievement highlights the hospital's commitment to advancing minimally invasive cardiac interventions for the benefit of our community.
"We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone in our TAVR program," says Thomas Gullatt, MD, President of St. Francis Health. "This achievement is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our medical team and their unwavering commitment to providing state-of-the-art cardiovascular care to our patients."
TAVR is an advanced, minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with a man-made valve without the need for open heart surgery. The surgery typically uses a transfemoral approach, which enters through the femoral artery in the groin and does not require a major surgical incision in the chest. The minimally invasive procedure creates less scarring and provides faster and easier recovery times for patients.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we renew our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in cardiac care,” said John Bruchhaus, MD, Chief Medical Officer at St. Francis Health. “Every TAVR procedure represents not just a medical intervention but a promise to our patients — a promise of a healthier future and a commitment to providing the best care possible."
National Heart Valve Day emphasizes the importance of heart valve health and encourages awareness about innovative treatments like TAVR. St. Francis Medical Center remains dedicated to improving patient outcomes, enhancing the quality of life for those affected by cardiovascular conditions, and contributing to the advancement of medical science. The hospital continues to invest in cutting-edge technologies, ensuring that patients receive the most advanced and compassionate care available. For more information about St. Francis Medical Center and TAVR, please visit stfran.com.
About St. Francis Health
St. Francis Health is a not-for-profit Catholic healthcare ministry based in Monroe, Louisiana, with more than 1,800 team members committed to caring for those we serve. With a 321-bed medical center, acute-care hospital, freestanding outpatient center, over 25 outpatient clinics, and nearly 350 physician partners, for more than 110 years, St. Francis has provided comprehensive healthcare services for a variety of medical and surgical specialties. St. Francis offers Northeast Louisiana’s only Level III NICU, Level III OB, OB-ED, and Level II PICU services. St. Francis Medical Center leads the region in heart and vascular services, critical care, and complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The hospital offers a designated Level III Trauma Center, a Graduate Medical Education Program, Accredited Chest Pain Center, Accredited Primary Stroke Center and Centers of Excellence in the areas of bariatric surgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive gynecology, breast health and specialized anesthesia. St. Francis is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. For more information, visit stfran.com.
About the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhs.org.